From the tax rate to the people who attend the village’s annual general meeting, little has changed for Cornwallis Square in recent years.
“The tax rate has been the same since 1996 and we seem to see the same faces at our meetings year after year,” noted commission chairman George Foote.

The commission met May 26 for its annual meeting at the Waterville fire hall. Less than 15 people, the majority of whom are members of the commission, fire department or fire commission; were on hand for the meeting, which sets area tax collection rates for fire protection, recreation and sidewalk services in Cambridge, Grafton, Waterville and Woodville.

Village clerk Bill Farrell reported surpluses in all areas of last year’s budget. Just over $15,000, $8,000 of that realized from underspending in fire protection, $3,500 in sidewalks and $3,700 for recreation; will be re-directed back to the village’s operational fund for the 2009/10 fiscal year.

The village presented a balanced budget of $388,986 for fire protection services in the year ahead. The inside fire collection rates, charged to property owners living within the boundaries of the four communities, will remain unchanged at eight cents per $100 of assessment. The outside collection rate, for the provision of fire services outside the village boundary, will also stay the same, at four-and-a-half cents.

The sidewalk budget, which covers snow removal and equipment expenses and crossing guard costs, will see little change from the 2008/09 budget. The village expects to raise the finances necessary for these services through an unchanged area rate of one cent per $100 of assessment.

A one-cent tax levy will also continue for the provision of recreation services. After each of the four communities receives it annual recreation grant of $5,000, a surplus of $2,243 will remain in the $22,243 budget.

Foote says the village will continue to lobby Kings County for more sidewalk work and Nova Scotia Power for the installation of some resident-requested street lights.
“We are hoping the county will throw some sidewalk work our way,” said Foote, explaining the county holds the purse strings for any new work.

Stuart Johnstone, serving as Waterville’s commissioner for the village “for about 50 years now,” was returned by aclaimation to the position to serve another three-year term. He joins midterm commissioners Foote, who represents Woodville; Simon Holleman, Grafton; Roy Quartermain, Cambridge; and member-at-large Larry Anderson on the five-person commission.